Burial apparatus



(N0 ModeL) J. O. HERRMANN.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

No. 327.552. Patefited 001;. 6, 1885 N. PETERS PMlo-Lmwgnphcr. Wasmnglom n. c.

wrTn STATES PATENT Orrrce.

JOHN C. HERRMANN, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part; of Letters Patent No. 327,552, dated October 6,1885.

Application filed March .2, 185 5. Se1ialNo.157,452. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. HERRMANN. a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is toso improve the burial apparatus described in my application for Letters Patent filed on or about the 20th day of February, 1885, as to dispense with one of its arches, and render the framework simpler, stronger, and lighter, and when disconnected more compact and portable.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the arches and other parts of the frame-work, as hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents an end perspective of the invention as in use; Fig. 2, a longitudinal half-section of an arch, and Fig. 3 a plan View of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In my original invention, above referred to, the apparatus is shown with three arches about equidistant, two being at the head and foot of the grave, respectively, and the other at some distance therefrom. It was designed therein that the coffin or casket should be moved endwise to a proper position over the grave, and thence lowered to place. To this end the arch farthest from the grave was made wide enough to allow the pall-bearers and casket to pass through, the casket being deposited on the ground at the head of the grave for the final ceremonies. That device, while generally satisfactory, and in most cases quite so,was necessarily somewhat complicated in structure and arrangement. The present invention is designed to simplify and improve it in several respects, and, first, by dispensing with one of the arches and placing the two remaining ones in a different position with respect to the grave. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that they are set parallel with the grave, the one being near to it and the other at a considerable distance from it to give room for the bearers to deposit the casket at the side of the grave. My object in putting it beside instead of over the grave is to avoid the inconvenience to the bearers caused by supporting the casket with the grave between them, and the danger of the caving in of the grave incident thereto. After the ceremony has been performed, the sexton or undertaker, by means of the tackle and removable carriage, transfers the casket from the place where it is left by the bearers to a position over the grave, moving it sidewise,and lowers it into the grave in the manner described in my former specification, above referred to.

Several important advantages arise from this arrangement. By dispensing with the middle arch and its connection with the sup porting-rail D the rail is unobstructed from end to end. Instead of being suspended from the arches by studs it maybe fastened directly to them, and there being no middle bolt or stud fort-he carriage to straddle, the rail may be set edgewise, as shown, and the carriage have but two travelers instead of four. The arches may also be narrower than in the former case, as it is not necessary that they be wide enough to span the grave. The greater simplicity of the structure and the diminution in the expense of manufacture will be evident.

Following is a description of the improvements in the manner of constructing the arches and connecting them in a suitable frame-work. For convenience in handling and conveying from place to place, the arch A is made in sections consisting of the center piece or key, a, the sides I) b, and supports or corner-blocks c c. To these may be added for increased strength the tie-rod d, which binds the parts together in the form of a truss. One side of the center block has asocket to admit the end of the rail D. On each side of the block are horns corresponding to the tubular side pieces, b I), and adapted to slip into them easily. A lug at each side receives the ends of the guyrods 6 c. The lower end of the side pieces, I) b, slips over a suitable horn on the corner-block c, which also has lugs for guy-rods (Z, c, andf. It may be fastened permanently to the top of post B or slip into it loosely, as above mentioned. The diagonal guy-rods e e are preferably provided with right-and-lcft nuts t 2', by means of which they may be strained to any required degree of tension. The tie-rod d may be so provided, if desired.

Thus constructed the frame is very light and strong, and may be set up or taken down easily and quickly, and when apart may be packed in comparatively narrow space for transportation, rendering it specially convenient for the purpose for which it is designed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

1. In a burial apparatus, the arch A, composed of' the center piece or key, a, having a socket to receive the end of the rail D, and side horns adapted to slip into the ends ofthe side pieces, I; b,the corner-blocks c c,connected with posts B, and having horns to retain the lower ends of the side pieces, [I b, in combination with said side pieces, substantially as 2. In a burial apparatus, the combination of center piece, a, side pieces, I) b, corner-blocks c c, tie'rod d, and posts B B, substantially as set forth.

3. In a burial apparatus, the combination of two arches, constructed substantially as specified, with the center rail, D, and the parallel tie-rods f f, substantially as set forth.

4. In a burial apparatus, the combination of two arches, constructed substantially as shown, with the diagonal guy-rods e 6, having tightening nutsi i, and the center rail, D, substantially as set forth.

7 5. In aburial apparatus, the combination of two arches, constructed substantially as specilied, with the center rail, D, parallel tie-rods f f, and diagonal guy-rods e e,made adjustable, all constructed, arranged, and adapted to operate substantially as specified.

6. In a burial apparatus, the center piece, a, having a socket for the end of the rail D, lugs for the guy-rods e e, and horns at an angle corresponding with side pieces, b b, and adapted to slip into their ends, substantially as set forth.

7. In a burial apparatus, the cornerblocks c 0, having an upwardly-extending horn at an angle corresponding with the side pieces, I) b,

and adapted to slip into the ends thereof, a downwardlyextending portion, whereby it is connected with the post 13, and lateral lugs to receive the ends of connecting-rods (1 cf, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. HERRMANN.

Witnesses:

F. LAURENCE WILCOX, L. 'R.\VILCOX. 

